Interview and giveaway

Hi all! The very wonderful Jodie Pierce is hosting me on her blog this week! Read the interview for a chance to win copies of Humanless and Unfree plus signed bookmarks. Here's a little peek:

What sparked your passion for books and the art of a good story?

I’ve always loved reading, I’m not sure if there’s this one ‘spark’ that made me fall in love with books. I can’t imagine not reading, it’s a way of life, I guess. As for writing, I have those stories, scenes, dialogues and people in my head all the time. It drives me mad, so the only thing that helps is giving them their own space on a sheet of paper, instead of in my head. They’re happy, I’m happy and we live happily ever after. I’ve never once sat down and thought, what happens now? How do I continue this story? It’s always there, somewhere, and I just write it down. It kind of feels like I’m not the one coming up with the story; like the story comes to me and I just have to sit down and write it.

Is there a particular book that changed or affected your life in a big way?

Every book I read affects me. It’s how it’s supposed to be. Whether we realise it or not, the moment we finish reading a book we’re just a little bit different than when we started. Kind of like importing new files in our computers – you don’t use all of them all the time, but when you need them they’re there and it make all the difference.

What was the seed of inspiration for your latest book?

My latest book is a sequel so it kind of continues a story I’m not done telling yet. The seed of inspiration for the whole three-book story was a single scene that played in my head for months until I gave up and sat down to write it. It was just about two people, no mythology, no sign of where this was going. By the time I was finished writing hat particular scene, I had most of the story in my head and it just needed to get out.

Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp?

There’s always a message, but I try not to push it on readers. Everyone should be free to draw their own conclusions. I’d like people to grasp that you can take something as well-known as Greek mythology and bend it to your own will until it’s shaped like something you need. I love messing up all the myths and making people question everything.

For the whole interview and your chance to win, visit Jodie's website.